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Aussie soldiers take to the screed!

Australian soldiers pour concrete as Philippines military exercises downgraded. The SMH's Lindsay Murdoch gives us the scoop

Australian soldiers pour concrete as Philippines military exercises downgraded

Lindsay Murdoch

Australian troops have joined US and Japanese forces in a sensitive military exercise in the Philippines.

Philippine officials say Exercise Balikatan has been downgraded to focus more on humanitarian assistance than live-fire drills after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last year declared he was rebalancing his country's foreign policy away from the US, its long-time ally, towards China.

US airmen and Australian soldiers pour floor concrete during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte. Photo: Facebook/US Air Force

Human rights groups say the backing of the Philippine Armed Forces by foreign militaries is also controversial because of its troops' involvement in Mr Duterte's war on drugs that has left almost 8000 Filipinos dead, including children as young as five.

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